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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 12 January 2021
China denies coercive birth control measures in Xinjiang

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese statement. China has been
official on Monday denied waging a years-long cam-
Beijing has imposed coer- paign against what it calls
cive birth control measures terrorism and religious fa-
among Muslim minority naticism in Xinjiang and
women, following an out- the embassy’s tweet refer-
cry over a tweet by the enced those polices, say-
Chinese Embassy in Wash- ing: “Study shows that in
ington claiming that gov- the process of eradicating
ernment polices had freed extremism, the minds of
women of the Uighur eth- Uygur women in Xinjiang
nic group from being “ba- were emancipated and
by-making machines.” gender equality and repro-
Xu Guixiang, a deputy ductive health were pro-
spokesperson for the Xinji- moted, making them no
ang regional government, longer baby-making ma-
told reporters Monday that chines.”
birth control decisions were The tweet cited a study by
made of the person’s own Li Xiaoxia, a Xinjiang Acad-
free will and that “no orga- emy of Social Sciences re-
nization or individual can searcher who has asserted
interfere.” that the birth control mea-
“The growth rate of the Ui- sures in Xinjiang are volun-
ghur population is not only Xu Guixiang, a deputy spokesperson for the Xinjiang regional government, looks up near a slide tary.
higher than that of the showing a photo of Uighur infants during a press conference to refute accusations of genocide in Monday’s news confer-
Beijing, China.
whole Xinjiang population, Associated Press ence was the latest at-
but also higher than that tempt by Beijing to deflect
of the minority population, Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other years, even as Beijing eas- and other American social rising international criticism
and more significantly high- ethnic minorities in Xinji- es birth restrictions on the media platforms. over its policies in Xinjiang,
er than that of the (Chinese ang, including IUD fittings, Han population ahead of “China’s fascist govern- particularly over alleged
majority) Han population,” contraceptives, and even a looming demographic ment is now openly admit- forced labor and the de-
Xu said. “As for the so- abortions and sterilizations. crisis. ting and celebrating its use tention of more than 1 mil-
called forcing ethnic mi- The measures are backed Twitter took down the Chi- of concentration camps, lion Uighurs, Kazakhs and
nority women in Xinjiang to by the threat of detention, nese Embassy’s Jan. 7 forced labor, forced ster- others in prison-like centers
wear IUDs, or undergo tub- with parents with three tweet following protests by ilizations and abortions, for political indoctrination.
al ligations or abortions, it is or more children swept groups that accuse Beijing and other forms of torture China says the centers
even more malign.” into camps and prisons if of seeking to eradicate to eliminate an ethnic and are intended to combat
An Associated Press inves- they’re unable to pay mas- Uighur culture. Users com- religious minority,” Nihad extremism and teach job
tigation in June found that sive fines. As a result, the plained the tweet was a Awad, national executive skills, but former residents
the Chinese government birth rate in Xinjiang’s mi- violation of rules set by Twit- director of The Council on and rights groups say they
was forcing draconian nority regions plummeted ter, which is blocked in Chi- American-Islamic Rela- target Islam and minority
birth control measures on by over 60% in just three na along with Facebook tions, said in an emailed languages and culture. q

Israel announces new settler homes, risking Biden’s anger

in a settlement where an Is- tion with wide international not held substantive peace
raeli woman was killed last support. The Palestinian talks in more than a de-
month in an attack alleg- Authority’s Foreign Minis- cade.
edly carried out by a Pales- try condemned the latest The greatest threat to Ne-
tinian assailant. announcement, accusing tanyahu in the coming
The announcement will Israel of “racing against vote comes from the right,
burnish Netanyahu’s right- time” to build settlements where Gideon Saar, a for-
wing credentials in a tough before President Donald mer ally and staunch sup-
campaign ahead of March Trump leaves office. porter of settlements, has
elections, but it could an- Trump’s administration pro- broken away and vowed
ger Biden, who is opposed vided unprecedented sup- to end his long rule. Polls
to settlement expansion port to Israel, including by show Netanyahu’s Likud
and has clashed with Israel abandoning a decades- winning the most votes but
over it in the past. old U.S. policy of opposing falling short of a majority
Israel captured the West settlements. U.S. Secretary coalition in Israel’s 120-seat
In this Nov. 16, 2020 file photo, workers take a break before Bank and east Jerusalem in of State Mike Pompeo last Knesset, or parliament.
European Union officials visit the construction site for Givat the 1967 war, territories the year became the first top The announcement said
Hamatos settlement in Jerusalem. Palestinians want for their U.S. diplomat to visit a West 100 homes would be built
Associated Press future state. Nearly 500,000 Bank settlement. in Tel Manashe, a West
By JOSEPH KRAUSS could strain ties with the Israelis live in settlements Biden has pledged a more Bank settlement where Es-
Associated Press incoming administration of scattered across the West even-handed approach ther Horgan, a 53-year-old
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel President-elect Joe Biden. Bank. in which he will restore aid mother of six, was killed last
on Monday advanced Prime Minister Benjamin The Palestinians view set- to the Palestinians that was month while jogging in a
plans to build 800 new set- Netanyahu’s office an- tlements as a violation of cut off by Trump and work nearby forest. Israel says it
tler homes in the occupied nounced the move, saying international law and an to revive peace negotia- has detained a Palestinian
West Bank, a move that it would include 100 homes obstacle to peace, a posi- tions. The two sides have suspect in the attack.q